Fluid ejection device

Abstract

A fluid ejecting device including a die including a perimeter defined by a first edge, a second edge opposing the first edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge opposing the third edge, wherein the third and fourth edges are disposed at an angle to the first and second edges to form angular corners, an active area including circuitry for controlling the fluid ejecting device to eject fluid, an inactive area positioned between the perimeter and the active area, and a termination ring encircling the active area, the termination ring including sides extending parallel to the first, second, third, and fourth edges and corners coupling adjacent sides, the corners having a corner radius greater than a first distance between the first edge and one of the sides of the termination ring, and a nozzle to eject fluid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid ejecting device comprising:
 a die comprising:
 a perimeter defined by a first edge, a second edge opposing the first edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge opposing the third edge, wherein the third and fourth edges are disposed at an angle to the first and second edges to form angular corners; 
 an active area including circuitry for controlling the fluid ejecting device to eject fluid; 
 an inactive area positioned between the perimeter and the active area; and 
 a termination ring encircling the active area, the termination ring including sides extending parallel to the first, second, third, and fourth edges and corners coupling adjacent sides, the corners having a corner radius greater than a first distance between the first edge and one of the sides of the termination ring; and 
 
 a nozzle to eject fluid;
 wherein the circuitry is positioned a second distance from the angular corners, the second distance being greater than the corner radius. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the die is configured for electrical connection along at least one side of the die. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the termination ring is centered between the first and second edges and the third and fourth edges. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a second distance between a first die corner of the die and a first ring corner of the termination ring positioned adjacent the first die corner is at least three times the first distance between the first edge of the die and the one of the sides of the termination ring. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inactive area encompasses the termination ring. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the termination ring provides electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between a corner of the die and corresponding corner of the termination ring is at least 3 times a distance between an edge of the die and a side of the termination ring. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between a corner of the die and corresponding corner of the termination ring is more than twice a distance between an edge of the die and a side of the termination ring. 
     
     
       9. A method of manufacturing a die for a fluid ejection device, comprising:
 fabricating a wafer as a substrate including a plurality of termination rings, each termination ring generally forming a rectangular boundary having rounded corners and including circuitry in an active area defined within each of the plurality of termination rings; and 
 cutting the wafer into individual die along cut lines, each die including one of the plurality of termination rings and circuitry within the respective termination ring, the termination ring extending generally parallel to the cut lines and forming rounded corners having a radius greater than a first distance from a first cut line to a portion of the termination ring extending generally parallel to the first cut line, the cut lines formed a distance from the termination ring and defining inactive areas encompassing each of the plurality of termination rings; 
 wherein forming the termination rings comprises alternatively laminating dielectric and metal layers. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the termination ring defines a closed boundary between an active area including the circuitry and the inactive area on each of the respective individual die. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the rounded corners of the termination ring are beveled. 
     
     
       12. A die for a fluid ejection device comprising:
 an active area of a die comprising circuitry disposed on a substrate, the circuitry to control the fluid ejecting device to eject fluid; 
 a termination ring including a plurality of metal and dielectric layers encompassing the active area, the termination ring being generally rectangular with sides intersecting at rounded corners; and 
 an inactive area of the die encompassing the termination ring and extending to perimeter edges of the die intersecting at angular corners, 
 wherein at least one of the rounded corners has a radius greater than a distance between one of the sides and one of the perimeter edges; 
 wherein a distance between one of the angular corners of the die and the rounded corner of the termination ring positioned adjacent to the angular corner is more than twice the distance between one of perimeter edges of the die and one of the sides of the termination ring extending adjacent to the one of perimeter edges. 
 
     
     
       13. The die of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the rounded corners of the termination ring is beveled. 
     
     
       14. The die of  claim 12 , wherein the rounded corners have equivalent radiuses. 
     
     
       15. The die of  claim 12 , wherein at least two of the rounded corners have differing radiuses. 
     
     
       16. The die of  claim 12 , wherein the termination ring is positioned to prevent damage to the inactive area from extending into the active area. 
     
     
       17. The die of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between a corner of the die and corresponding corner of the termination ring is at least 3 times a distance between an edge of the die and a side of the termination ring.